Reading List

This sampling of writings about albinism can educate and spark conversation. You may find many more books, especially fiction, but we hope you enjoy some of the books listed here.

Please Note:

Listings and links are provided as a convenience and not an endorsement of a particular author or seller.

Not all books are suitable for sensitive or young readers. Please research the pieces and use your best judgement.

Nonfiction

Raising a Child with Albinism: A Guide to the Early Years
By The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation
This is a one-of-a-kind book to help guide parents through the unique challenges of raising a child with albinism. With contributions from about 20 writers, this book provides an authoritative source for parents.

Raising a Child with Albinism: A Guide to the School Years
By The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation
This book explores a wide variety of topics through the research and knowledge of professionals as well as parents and adults with albinism including: IEPs, assessments, the Expanded Core Curriculum, O&M, transitioning from high school to college and independent living and more.

Article: Truevine: Two Brothers, a Kidnapping and a Mother’s Quest: A True Story of the Jim Crow South
By Beth Macy
This article from NPR gives insight into the story of the brothers and how the author came to learn about the tale of two black brothers with albinism who were forced to work for the circus.

Article: For the Benefit of Those Who See: Dispatches from the World of the Blind
By Rosemary Mahoney
This article explores what it means to “see” as well as how people who are blind are treated, worldwide.

Albinism in Africa: Historical, Geographic, Medical, Genetic, and Psychosocial Aspects
Editors: Dr. Jennifer Kromberg and Dr. Prashiela Manga
This book provides the first in-depth reference for understanding and treating patients of human albinism in Africa. Leading international contributors examine the historical, geographic, psychosocial, genetic and molecular considerations of importance in effectively and sensitively managing this genetic disorder.

Finding Wheels: Strategies to Build Independent Travel for Those with Visual Impairments
By L. Penny Rosenblum and Anne L. Corn

Now available! Finding Wheels: Strategies to Build Independent Travel Skills for Those with Visual Impairments is written for the traveler. Each of the 10 chapters of Finding Wheels has objectives for the traveler followed by up-to-date information on topics, for example, using rideshare services, the role of technology in travel, interacting with drivers, bicycling with low vision, safety during travel, and transportation budgets. Sixteen activities are included to aid travelers in applying and expanding the information they learn through the material shared in Finding Wheels. The directions for the activities are written to the traveler and guide the traveler through the activity.

White Ebony
By Partricia Willocq
Photographic Essay
This photo essay explores albinism in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a hopeful and encouraging way.

Deconstructing the Albino Other: A Critique of Albinism Identity in Media
By Niya Pickett Miller
Deconstructing the Albino Other: A Critique of Albinism Identity in Media discusses how American popular culture and communication about albinism, including movie characters and memes, have worked to create and maintain a negative trope of albinism that situates people with albinism (PWA) as a monolithic other. Niya Pickett Miller demonstrates that consequently, PWA must construct their own identities of albinism, highlighting the salient aspects of themselves as they see fit with no valid representation to look to for guidance. Thus, Pickett Miller argues, self-defining for PWA is a key rhetorical action taken to rearticulate albinism identity. Rather than focusing on scientific and medical lenses of analysis, this book positions albinism as a social construct through which a broader understanding of otherness can be achieved, using the negative influence of pop culture’s otherization of PWA as a case study with broader implications, including how medical conditions can be visually troped to isolate the other outside of society’s realm of normalcy. Scholars of media studies, race studies, sociology, rhetoric, and the medical humanities will find this book particularly useful.

Are You Aware The Albinism?
An international awareness workbook for individuals with albinism, consisting of a collection of life stories of people with albinism from many different countries. For more information, contact albinism@sosyalkumbara.org.

Memoirs

Note:  Those living with albinism experience the condition differently.  Information presented in the following memoirs reflects the individual experiences and knowledge of the authors. 

Beyond the Pale
By Emily Urquhart
A journalist and folklore scholar accustomed to processing the world through other people’s stories, Emily is drawn to understanding her child’s difference by researching the cultural beliefs associated with albinism worldwide. What she finds on her journey vacillates between beauty and darkness.

Black Girl White Skin: A Life In Stories
By Natalie Devora
This is a memoir of a woman whose life touches upon intersections of identity in so many ways. Her story is also a testament to the power of silences and naming, claiming Truth despite uncomfortable truths, and the healing grace found through story. There is so much to love about this book, and so much to discuss. Readers will be grateful for having spent time with Black Girl White Skin.

Breaking the Boundaries of Impairment: A Life Journey with Low Vision
By Bruce Barton
Bruce has battled for more than half a century to overcome the challenges of impairment. His wide range of life experiences are unique in the low vision community. These experiences range from daily life events to exotic adventures. He has trapped and put radio collars on black bears for science, snorkeled with manta rays, rappelled into caves, and kayaked down rivers. He’ll share many life experiences and offer advice and encouragement so you can live your own adventures. This book covers what Bruce’s boundaries are, why he tries to break through them, and techniques that he has found to be successful at breaking those boundaries. He shares specifics and experiences in the following situations: home, school, work, travel, outdoor adventure, and social settings. In addition, he offers thoughts for parents and other supporting individuals who are interacting with low vision children.

The Edge of Normal
By Hana Schank
Parent Perspective Kindle Singles are longer than an article but shorter than a book. This essay tells a mother’s story of navigating a world filled with a spectrum of ability and disability, filled with both heartbreak and joy, and how she and her daughter learn to balance together on the edge of normal.

Too White to Be Black and Too Black to Be White
By Lee Edwards
This book gives insight into what life can be like for a black person with albinism growing up in the black community and the impact public humiliation, intimidation and ridicule can have long-term. It can serve as a guide for parents and young adults about dealing with the hardships of living with albinism.

Children & Young Adults

Alba’s Notebook
By Sue Curtis

Alba’s Notebook, written by Sue Curtis, is a breath of fresh air in the picture book market.  Currently, there are extremely few picture books positively portraying a character with albinism.  Alba’s Notebook aims to start closing this gap.

Sue is a primary school teacher and self-published author who firmly believes every child should be represented in the stories they read.  Her book does not teach about albinism, instead stars a main character who has albinism.  

Sue wants her book to be accessible to as many children as possible. With this in mind, she has included a QR code in her book which will allow children to listen to her reading the story.

Alba and his friends hop with kangaroos, hang upside down with sloths, skate with penguins and discover other incredible animals.  

Every night Alba gets out his notebook.  But what does he write inside?

Join Alba, who has albinism, and his friends on their animal adventure.

Alley: I Have Albinism
By Alethea Allen

Alley is a third grader ready to take on the world-but is the world ready for her?

What do you do when you have a condition that makes you look very different from your family and friends? What if it means you have to do things a little differently than everyone else? You help the world learn all about you, of course! Alley has albinism and she wants to tell everyone all about it. She understands that being an albino means that she has to approach some things a little differently, but it doesn’t stop her from doing all the things that she loves.

Children with albinism and their families don’t often get to tell their stories. And with a condition this rare, finding information and meeting others like you doesn’t happen a lot. This book hopes to bring awareness and understanding of albinism to both children and adults alike. It hopes to show that different doesn’t mean bad, and that not being able to do things the same way as everyone else doesn’t mean not being able to do those things at all.

Join along on Alley’s journey to learn about courage, confidence, and being yourself!

Colors of Olleh
By Robdarius Brown (RobenX)

This is a story of boy who can see colors in a world where colors do not exist. After he is rejected by everyone, a young girl stands up for him and helps everyone to see the beauty that surrounds them.

Nobody’s Magic
By Destiny O Birdsong

In this glittering triptych novel, Suzette, Maple and Agnes, three Black women with albinism, call Shreveport, Louisiana home. At the bustling crossroads of the American South and Southwest, these three women find themselves at the crossroads of their own lives.   

Suzette, a pampered twenty-year‑old, has been sheltered from the outside world since a dangerous childhood encounter. Now, a budding romance with a sweet mechanic allows Suzette to seek independence, which unleashes dark reactions in those closest to her. In discovering her autonomy, Suzette is forced to decide what she is willing to sacrifice in order to make her own way in the world.

Maple is reeling from the unsolved murder of her free‑spirited mother. She flees the media circus and her judgmental grandmother by shutting herself off from the world in a spare room of the motel where she works. One night, at a party, Maple connects with Chad, someone who may understand her pain more than she realizes, and she discovers that the key to her mother’s death may be within her reach.

Agnes is far from home, working yet another mind‑numbing job. She attracts the interest of a lonely security guard and army veteran who’s looking for a traditional life for himself and his young son. He’s convinced that she wields a certain “magic,” but Agnes soon unleashes a power within herself that will shock them both and send her on a trip to confront not only her family and her past, but also herself.

This novel, told in three parts, is a searing meditation on grief, female strength, and self‑discovery set against a backdrop of complicated social and racial histories. Nobody’s Magic is a testament to the power of family—the ones you’re born in and the ones you choose. And in these three narratives, among the yearning and loss, each of these women may find a seed of hope for the future.

A Crash Course in Clashing
By Alexee Anais

A new book written by an author with albinism!

The term happiness is easily recognized and in theory, able to be understood by many. However it is a feeling that has not been explored by either of our main characters in this dual point of view story.

On one hand, Carolina Flores thinks she’s happy. With her united Mexican family, two best friends- Elena and Valentina, and Daniel-her boyfriend of two years; her life can’t seem to get much better, at least until she got her acceptance letter in the mail. Now transferring into the University of Washington, she’s working towards the career of her dreams, making new friends, and hanging out more with Elena, who also goes there. The only problem with that is that her aspirations are seemingly getting in the way of the life everyone else wants for her.

A first generation student, she finds that no one but Elena understands her career oriented life. Everyone else would rather her get married and start a family, but the idea alone sends shivers down her spine. As the reader looks more into her life, the struggle between managing her time spent at UW and her time with her increasingly possessive boyfriend begin to take a toll on her mental health. Her only help comes from the person she least expected it to come from: her art partner Kang Seo-Jun.

Coming from a strict business background, Seo-Jun faces his own struggles with happiness. His parents, who were once loving and united, have now turned cold and somewhat neglectful as they focus on their growing skincare business, Nabi Cosmetics. Since he is their only child, his parents begin giving him the attention he’d been yearning for when he shows an interest in beginning his training with the company. However now, he must juggle early east coast time meetings, endless reports, classes, and making time for his two friends- Khai and Si-Hoo.

His issue with happiness is seen when he constantly sets aside his culinary passion to appease his parents and their plans for his life. Having been raised to have a logical mindset, Seo-Jun has been fine with pushing aside his emotions until halfway through the school year when Khai and Si-Hoo invite him to spend the holidays with their families since the Kangs are out of the country. At this point, he begins to realize how exhausted and unhappy he truly is with himself and the never changing relationship with his parents.

Although they live their own lives, Caro and Seo-Jun become intertwined when they are paired together for an art assignment. Immediately upon meeting, their personalities clash. She’s too loud and emotional, and he’s too calculated and dry. As they get to know each other through their quarter long art assignments, they begin to see that they might not be so different after all.

Alfie Sees Love
By Alison Nenon, Illustrated by Andi Sevargo

Alfie Sees Love is a children’s book about a fun-loving rhinoceros with albinism who likes to go on adventures, celebrate differences, and spread love all around. The bright colors, high-contrast text, fun illustrations, and meaningful message make it fun for kids of all ages. Alfie Sees Love is the first book in a series that aims to normalize differences, teach empathy, and promote inclusion. Stay tuned for more Alfie adventures! To learn more, visit www.alfieseeslove.com. 

Uniquely Made: Stories from Children Living with Albinism
By Alecia Abrahams

Have you ever felt different? Nyla, Tim, Hassan, Ahmed and Namazzi all have something in common despite living in different countries. They each have their own struggles and challenges, their own journey and their own story to tell. Even though they are physically different from their peers, they all would like one thing, and that is simply to be loved and accepted by everyone. We will travel to four countries and see what these children enjoy, how they are treated by their peers, how they live and what unites them.

Don’t Call Me a Ghost! Growing Up With Albinism Around the World
By Cynthia Roman, Ed.D

Don’t Call Me A Ghost! is Cynthia Roman’s third book of fiction and grew out of her own experience as a person with albinism. Aimed at young adults, this book of short stories examines how growing up with albinism is influenced by national and cultural differences.

The Brightest Star
By Andrea Morehead & James Morehead

What are you, and why do you look that way?

James Morehead and his daughter Andrea Morehead, an Emmy-award winning television journalist and author, weave a phenomenal true story of courage, resiliency, and perseverance navigating through life with albinism. They cleverly use poetry to explain how and why James’ exterior color is white although he’s African-American.

While this book is for children with amazing illustrations, this book is for all ages, and is a comprehensive story from childhood to adulthood about being an albino, and some of the hurtful experiences he endured growing up. With poignant and sometimes sad anecdotes of bullying, the Moreheads captivate the reader with bright illustrations to complement the narrative of building self-esteem, self-love and confidence. He credits his Christian faith with being able to rise above the ridicule and sometimes loneliness.

Armed with great friends and family along the way, Morehead explains how he was able to find acceptance and success despite his outer shell. He reinforces to children that what really counts is one’s character, and how God has created everyone with a unique purpose in life. They share the lesson that our unique differences and abilities are part of God’s master plan to foster appreciation and acceptance of others. While he may be “The Brightest Star” among us, Morehead’s inspirational story reminds everyone that they have a special purpose to use their life to positively impact the world, and it all begins with self-love.

This is one of the few, if only, books that specifically discusses what it’s like growing up as an albino and stands as a shining example of persevering, believing in yourself, and achieving your dreams against all odds. It’s a wonderful tool for people of all ages to learn and understand albinism; have compassion and extend kindness to everyone; and recognize that our differences should be celebrated.

If you’re looking for a book to help children understand diversity and inclusion, this is it! #Kindness #Value #Worth

Monocular Mac
By Dr. Anne Corn
Monocular Mac is the story of a young child who receives his first monocular telescope.

Life With J.A.K.: Living with Albinism
By Tikia Kidd
Life with J.A.K is reading about the life of a young African-American boy who creates normalcy and shines a positive and warm spotlight on Albinism. Readers will discover they have more similarities than differences and have gained an accurate and personal understanding about Albinism. Take a glimpse into a day in the life of JAK who will educate, encourage, and inspire ALL readers to see Albinism as a superhero power rather than a “condition.”

Golden Like Me
By Brandi M. Green
Madison and Nathaniel both have albinism, a genetic condition that reduces the amount of pigment formed in the skin, hair, and eyes. They become fast friends after randomly meeting one another while they’re out with their families. These young children both learn the joys of being in community with someone who shares their condition.

Unique
By Arlene Gerrity
This is a story of a robin born with albinism, who matures and succeeds in life, by learning to handle, in a positive manner, her “Unique” genetic condition. She learned to adapt by going over, under, around, and through physical challenges in her path.

My Name is Rachel: A Girl with Albinism
By Gene Walker
This book is written from the perspective of an elementary school child and explores her day-to-day life.

Living with Albinism
By Elaine Landau
This book provides introductions to subjects in areas of the middle-grade curriculum including science, social studies and the arts.

Golden Boy
By Tara Sullivan
Although Habo’s family barely accepts him, when the family is forced from their village, they travel across the Serengeti. Suddenly, he has a new word for himself: albino. But they hunt people with albinism because body parts are thought to bring good luck. Soon Habo is being hunted. To keep his life, Habo must run, not knowing if he can ever stop.

But Mommy It’s not Fair
By Sherria Elliott
Series
Inspired by the life of her daughter, “Heaven,” this series follows the life of a young girl with albinism who struggles to accept herself and understand why her appearance differs from her friends and family.

My Fair Child
By Maureen A. Ryan
Although a child with albinism has been raised in a loving home, she dreams of a bully. She awakens and shares her dream with her mother and is compassionately reminded of her unique beauty. “Be proud of who you are, let your love shine and hold your head up high fair child of mine.”

Platinum Prison
By Adam Salter
Set against the colorful backdrop of the psychedelic 60s and glam 70s, follow Pete on a journey of discovery as he tries to find his place in life and searches for acceptance and love.

A Blind Guide to Stinkville
By Beth Vrabel
This is a small-town story that explores many different issues—albinism, blindness, depression, dyslexia, growing old, and more

A Blind Guide to Normal
By Beth Vrabel
Sequel to A Blind Guide to Stinkville
Ryder quickly sees the only thing worse than explaining a joke is being the punchline. But with help from his stuck-in-the-70s Gramps and encouragement from Alice, Ryder finds the strength to not only fight back, but to make peace.

SPOTLESS
Story by Kate Hancock
Illustrated by Lane Gregory
SPOTLESS is the story of Sinclair, a giraffe with albinism who doesn’t want to be different. SPOTLESS is a timely story for young people of all ages.
Some people choose to be different but others have difference thrust upon them. As Sinclair quickly discovers, the world is not always kind to those deemed different.

Anthony’s Adventures: Already a Winner!
By Dr. Brenda Everett Mitchell
Anthony’s Adventures: Already a Winner! is a bright, colorful story of finding the strength to overcome challenges on your own. The story focuses on a young man learning to triumph over fear and doubt by channel his inner superhero. Anthony has albinism and is often questioned about his outward appearance. His self-esteem crumbles every time he gets on the bus and is confronted by his nemesis, Brandon, and his gang of comrades. Evan, Anthony’s younger brother, often has to force Brandon to give Anthony a seat. The fact that his younger brother has to step in on his behalf crushes Anthony’s spirits even more. One day while alone in his room, Anthony hears a familiar voice and sees himself dressed as a superhero in the mirror. Super Antney allows Anthony to see that he already knows how to handle Brandon on his own. He has always had the strength and tenacity to overcome challenges living inside.

While created for elementary-aged children, Anthony’s Adventures reminds us all that we are stronger than we know. Sometimes we simply need to look inside for the fortitude to overcome challenges. There is a superhero in us all….just look in the mirror to get a glimpse.

Anthony’s Adventures: Making Waves!
By  Dr. Brenda Everett Mitchell
This is an exciting story about Anthony, a young boy with albinism, who is spending a day at the beach with his brother and friends. Anthony has no idea what adventures are in store as he swims too far in the ocean and has to deal with protecting his skin. He later meets a new boy on the beach who questions why he looks the way he does. What a day! Come learn all about Anthony’s Adventures while making waves.

This is ME from A to Z!
Story by Rachel Chardea Brown
Illustrations by Jocelyn Southern
Each child should be celebrated for the unique features and abilities they were created with. This is ME from A to Z does just that! Children and adults can enjoy this book together as they discuss the unique differences they see with every new character. The pages feature fun alliterations to familiarize children with the sound of each letter in the alphabet.

Fiction

The Edge of the Sword Series
By Amber Gabriel
The Edge of the Sword series includes a character with oculocutaneous albinism, Princess Bashalis, who is introduced in book 3. Though the condition is unnamed in her fictional world, Gabriel’s goal in including this character is to promote understanding and offer a positive portrayal of albinism in a fantasy setting.

The Book of Memory
By Petina Gappah
Memory, a woman with albinism, has been convicted for the murder of her adopted father and is in prison in Zimbabwe. Her lawyer insists she write down what happened because there is a mandatory death sentence for murder. Why does she feel no remorse for his death? And did everything happen exactly as she remembers?

Zebra Crossing
By Meg Vandermerwe
On the eve of the World Cup, Chipo and her brother flee to Cape Town, hoping for a better life and to share in the excitement of the sporting event. But it is a dangerous place for an illegal immigrant and a person with albinism. Soon, Chipo is caught up in a get-rich-quick scheme. Exploiting gamblers’ superstitions about albinism, they plan to make money and get out of the city, but their scheming has devastating consequences.

The Likes of Me
By Randall Platt
A teen with albinism, Cordy is half Caucasian and half Chinese. She grew up in a lumber town with her distant father and giant stepmother nicknamed Babe (after Paul Bunyan’s ox). She is convinced she is ugly, but in the summer of 1918, when she is fourteen, she falls in love with the dashing Squirl. When Squirl is fired, Cordy runs away to be with him. She begins an adventure that takes her to the sideshows of Seattle, where her unusual looks bring her fame. But her journey also brings tragedy.

Then She Was Born
By Cristiano Gentili
This book is an international human rights campaign supported by eleven Nobel Peace Prize laureates, the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis. Based on an inconceivable reality for many in the world today.

Blood Master – Book 1 of the G.O.D.s Series
By Kirsten Campbell
It’s 2052 and Earth has lost two thirds of its population to the Great War. Many more lives were lost to earthquakes, the Clover Virus, and the Death Plague. Years later, survivors were clumped into factions. Two of the factions, the Guild and the Brotherhood, have fought over medical supplies and food for years. The fight is coming to a head as manpower dwindles and the struggle becomes one to gain numbers, even if said numbers are children…
Griffin Storm is hiding out in Underground Atlanta. He’s a man with albinism that can manipulate glass and crystal, and he uses his special abilities to raid warehouses and old buildings for food and supplies for the abandoned children that live underground. During a raid, he meets Tassta Vinetti, a resident of the Brotherhood fortress. He is taken to the fortress and chaos ensues as Tassta, her twin brother Penn, and her uncle, try to keep their new visitor and his untold powers a secret. 
Griffin is the only survivor of the Guild’s deadly experiments and they hunt for him because his survival will have dynamic consequences on the world. The Guild believes that Griffin will transform into a G.O.D., a genetically enhanced Omni-dimensional being with limitless abilities.
Will Griffin transform into a G.O.D.? Will he save the children of the Underground from their tragic life? Only time will tell…

Photography Books

Albinism Seen: A Story Through My Eyes
By Benjamin Powell
Albinism Seen is a photography book showcasing the visual representation of someone with Albinism. The Author Benjamin Powell is a person with Albinism and he uses his skills in photography to visually bring to life the perspective of people with Albinism’s eyesight and challenges that come with it.